Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The epidural structure changes during deep breathing.

T Igarashi1, Y Hirabayashi, R Shimizu

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, Jichi Medical School, Kawachi-gun, Tochigi-ken, Japan.

Canadian Journal of Anaesthesia = Journal Canadien D'Anesthesie
|September 18, 1999
PubMed
Summary

Deep breathing expands the epidural space, creating a larger cavity. This respiratory effect may facilitate easier epidural catheter insertion during anesthesia procedures.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Continuous epidural infusion of bupivacaine and buprenorphine for postoperative pain relief].

Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology·1992
Same author

[Sevoflurane anesthesia for asthmatic patients: report of five cases].

Masui. The Japanese journal of anesthesiology·1992
Same author

Occurrence of the nfxB type mutation in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy·1992
Same author

Identification of the binding site of 55kDa tumor necrosis factor receptor by synthetic peptides.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications·1992
Same author

Two reactions are simultaneously catalyzed by a single enzyme: the arginine-dependent simultaneous formation of two products, ethylene and succinate, from 2-oxoglutarate by an enzyme from Pseudomonas syringae.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications·1992
Same author

Molecular cloning in Escherichia coli, expression, and nucleotide sequence of the gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2.

Biochemical and biophysical research communications·1992

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Anatomy
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Previous clinical observations suggested improved epidural catheter insertion with patient deep breaths.
  • The anatomical and spatial effects of respiration on the epidural space remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of respiratory maneuvers on the epidural space.
  • To determine if deep breathing alters epidural space dimensions relevant to catheter placement.

Main Methods:

  • Flexible epiduroscopy was employed in 20 patients undergoing thoracic epidural anesthesia.
  • The epidural space was visualized via a Tuohy needle using the loss-of-resistance technique with air injection.
  • Changes in epidural structures were measured during maximal inspiration at the needle tip and 10 cm cephalad.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Deep inspiration significantly expanded the visible cavity at the needle tip (12.1% vs 2.8%) and 10 cm cephalad (20.6% vs 7.0%).
  • In 80% of cases, fatty tissue at the needle tip repositioned during inspiration, revealing an expanded cavity.
  • The epidural space, initially expanded by air, showed further expansion during maximal inspiration.

Conclusions:

  • Respiration, specifically deep breathing, demonstrably expands the potential cavity of the epidural space.
  • These findings support the hypothesis that respiratory-induced changes in epidural anatomy can aid epidural catheter insertion.